By: Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam
Secretary General, Palestine Foundation Pakistan
(Palestine Foundation Information Center) It was on January 3, 2020, that the US government, as it has done repeatedly in the past, advanced its malicious designs against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of independent countries. This time, Iraq’s sovereignty was violated, and Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was targeted by missiles at Baghdad International Airport while he was on an official visit. Alongside him, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of Iraq’s resistance forces, was also martyred.
The US government, particularly then-President Trump, began portraying this incident, as usual, as a so-called American “success,” much like the United States claimed success after dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people; after massacring innocent civilians in Afghanistan for twenty years; and continuing bloodshed in Iraq. Before that, there were Vietnam and countless other such tragedies where the US government slaughtered thousands of innocent people and always labeled these atrocities as American victories.
All of this is proof that it is the United States that has consistently nurtured terrorism across the world and trampled upon human rights and humanity itself. Recently, US President Trump even boasted that the United States provided Israel with USD 21 billion worth of weapons, which Netanyahu “used effectively” that is, to carry out genocide against the Palestinians.
Likewise, Trump has previously admitted that the United States supported ISIS and spent seven trillion dollars to enable ISIS to massacre innocent people in Syria and Iraq. In short, the United States is the root of terrorism.
Although the United States assassinated General Qassem Soleimani and his companions, six years have now passed since that killing. The question that still arises is whether the United States truly achieved its stated objectives by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani. Or is it rather the case that the martyred Qassem Soleimani has become an even greater obstacle to the malicious designs of the United States and its allies than he was in life? The clear answer is that ideology never dies; bodies die, but ideologies live on.
Qassem Soleimani may have appeared to be an individual, but in reality, he was an ideology, an ideology that continues to imprint itself upon the minds and hearts of youth across the world.
Six years have passed since the martyrdom of Qassem Soleimani, yet freedom-loving people around the globe now observe January 3 as the “International Day of Resistance.” This day is not observed only in Iran and Iraq; it is commemorated across the Muslim and Arab world, including Palestine, and even by young people in the United States and Europe. This is Qassem Soleimani’s true success: even after his assassination, he lives on in the hearts of people worldwide, while President Trump remains despised and condemned across the globe.
January 3, observed as the International Day of Resistance, is in fact a reminder of the struggles of those nations and movements around the world that are fighting for truth, freedom, and sovereignty against oppression, colonialism, and tyranny, especially the oppressed Palestinian nation.
Qassem Soleimani was a unique figure who armed the hands of the Palestinians and transferred military experience and technology to Palestinian youth so that they could defend themselves. Today, the entire world has witnessed how the Palestinians defended themselves and humbled the world’s major powers. All of this is the reward for Qassem Soleimani’s sincerity and struggle for Palestine. The purpose of observing this day is not merely to keep the history of resistance alive; rather, it reminds us to pay tribute to those personalities who sacrificed their lives to give courage and direction to oppressed nations. Among these great figures, the name of Martyr Qassem Soleimani stands prominent. Those who follow his path continue to make sacrifices for Palestine and Jerusalem in Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, and other countries. Today is a day to salute all these martyrs with reverence.
In the context of the International Day of Resistance, the personality of Martyr Qassem Soleimani conveys the message that resistance is not merely about taking up arms; it is a path of resolve, perseverance, sacrifice, and steadfastness on the truth. He proved that when intentions are sincere and the cause is just, even the greatest powers cannot defeat the will of the people. Martyr Qassem Soleimani was not only a military commander; he was a symbol of intellectual, ideological, and practical resistance. He organized the resistance front in the Middle East against colonial powers and Zionist projects, and made the support of oppressed nations, particularly the people of Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, the mission of his life.
Under his leadership, resistance evolved from a limited geographical struggle into a regional and ideological movement. This form of resistance remains alive and vigilant today, in one way or another, in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and other parts of the world.
In conclusion, the martyrdom of Qassem Soleimani itself represents a decisive turning point in the history of global resistance. Rather than weakening resistance movements, his martyrdom strengthened them and awakened global consciousness to the fact that the struggle against oppression does not end with the death of individuals; ideologies endure.
That is why his name is still regarded as a symbol of resistance, honor, and steadfastness. The International Day of Resistance reminds us that the sacrifices of leaders like Martyr Qassem Soleimani never go in vain. His struggle is an intellectual legacy for future generations, inspiring them to stand against oppression, support the oppressed, and strive for global justice.
Finally, it is fair to say that Martyr Qassem Soleimani and the International Day of Resistance are inseparable. This day provides an opportunity to renew our commitment to stand with every oppressed people of the world and to raise our voices against every system founded on tyranny, exploitation, and injustice.
